Jollibee Group and Manila LGU officials convened anew for the signing of a new memorandum of agreement that will create employment opportunities for senior citizens and persons with disabilities in Jollibee-owned stores across Manila City.
MANILA, Philippines. The Jollibee Group recently announced the resumption of its inclusive employment program to hire senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWD) in Manila after renewing its partnership with the city government of Manila.
The partnership is consistent with Jollibee Group’s commitment to providing equal employment opportunities to different sectors while promoting and practicing inclusivity and diversity in the workplace.
Jollibee Group will hire 28 senior citizens and 17 PWDs as customer relations staff across the Manila branches of Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Burger King through the city’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO). Manila PESO will screen and determine qualified candidates before endorsing them to the company. Applicants must also secure a medical clearance from the Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center, the accredited hospital for this program.
“We started this program in 2019 with the Manila LGU. Working on this program in the past few years has allowed us to see how our elderly and differently-abled individuals have appreciated the opportunity to find gainful employment. The Jollibee Group continues to support this initiative of the Manila LGU, and we have been very fortunate to have a partner that shares the same desire and passion as the company in looking after the interest of our elderly and PWDs,” said Ruth Angeles, Jollibee Group Vice President and Head for Human Resources-Philippines and Global Organization, Leadership & Culture.
“We look forward to forging more partnerships with other LGUs so we can improve more lives and find reliable staff who can join us in our mission to share the joy of eating with everyone,” Angeles added.
The signing of the new memorandum of agreement held last January 31 was attended by Manila City Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, Vice Mayor Yul Servo Nieto, and Secretary to the Mayor Atty. Marlon Lacson, as well as officials from Jollibee Group represented by Public Affairs AVP Atty. Raul Academia and Philippine Region Human Resources Director Anna Prado.
Interested applicants can get more information on this employment program from the Manila Department of Social Welfare and the Office of Senior Citizen’s Affairs.
Back in 2019, Jollibee Group was the first restaurant company in the Philippines to partner with the Manila LGU in providing jobs to over a hundred qualified senior citizens and PWDs in the combined 39 branches of Jollibee, Chowking, Mang Inasal, and Greenwich in Manila. Besides Manila, Jollibee Group also partnered with the LGUs of Antipolo and Pasay in 2019 to implement the same inclusive employment program.
When I wrote about how to apply for a PWD ID in 2018 I made sure to include a section on whether applications can get disapproved. And for those who didn’t bother to read the article, the answer is YES! Non-apparent disabilities can be rejected if the accompanying documents are unable to substantially prove that the applicant is qualified for a PWD ID.
I cannot blame PDAO for looking really closely at the documents because there are many who apply who don’t really have a disability but just want to take advantage of the privileges given to those who are, which is actually an accommodation given the disability. I actually know of people who have done this … who have BOUGHT their PWD ID with a supposed mental disability. If a lack of conscience is an acceptable mental disability, then there you go!
Non-apparent disabilities
Mental disabilities
Some mental disabilities such as ADHD and bipolar disorder, for example, are not immediately approved as it needs a comprehensive medical abstract from a licensed psychologist who is connected with a hospital.
I’ve heard of instances where a person with ADHD is bipolar at the same time. Oftentimes, we hear this accompanied even by severe depression. It can happen. But it won’t be approved without the comprehensive medical abstract.
Orthopedic disabilities
Non-apparent orthopedic disabilities can also be rejected if the supporting papers, such as the medical abstract is unable to prove that the condition is a disability.
Disc herniation
A slipped (or herniated) disc, for example, is not considered a disability. I am not a doctor, don’t quote me on this, but I am assuming that a herniated disc is not approved because it is common and does not impact our lives long-term.
According to the Mayo Clinic, disc herniation is often the result of gradual, aging-related wear and tear, or disc degeneration. This means that as we age, we all experience disc herniation. If we are healthy, then to a lesser degree than someone who was injured.
Disc herniation can also happen to young adults due to trauma such as those caused by an injury related to an accident, work, or sports. Disc herniation on its own is not enough reason to qualify for a PWD ID. Once implants are required and the spine is permanently compromised, then that is when it qualifies.
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a disability, but not all applicants with scoliosis are approved, especially if they cannot see any curvature in the spine and the supporting documents do not substantiate the condition. I know someone who told me he has scoliosis but try as I might, I don’t see it. To be fair, it isn’t pronounced, if at all, and it’s not like I have ever seen his naked back so how would I really know? I also haven’t seen his x-rays PLUS … most importantly, I am not a doctor.
My niece has scoliosis. When she was young she even had to wear a body brace. Now, I don’t think she wears one anymore but not because her scoliosis is gone. It is still there but to a lesser degree. I don’t know if her parents ever applied for a PWD ID for her as back then, I don’t think it even existed.
Visual disability
You don’t need to be completely blind but if your eyesight is so poor that it cannot be addressed by corrective glasses, lenses, or medication, then you can apply.
What to do
So, if you have a non-apparent disability and would like to apply for a PWD ID then you need to make sure that your documents are complete and that the medical abstract provided can show that you really are qualified to receive one. Otherwise, be grateful that you are healthy.
SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc., will be conducting the 5th Emergency Preparedness Forum, in its continuing thrust to make persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens more resilient and better prepared in times of disasters. From what was an annual event held in a single venue, SM Cares now brings the forum across five SM malls nationwide from June 21 to July 12, 2019, in observance of the National Disaster Resilience Month.
Participating malls include:
SM City Clark (June 21)
SM City Marikina (July 2)
SM City Dasmariñas (July 5)
SM City Batangas (July 9)
SM Center Muntinlupa (July 12)
all happening from 10 AM to 12 Noon.
Facilitating the forum are DOST Undersecretary, PHIVOLCS director, and leading expert in geology and seismology, Dr. Renato Solidum Jr., joined by Dr. Ted Esguerra, who is an active member of numerous emergency preparedness and disaster response units around the globe. Both highly-regarded experts will impart knowledge about natural disasters and how to properly respond to them.
Bien Mateo, SM SVP for Operations
“We believe that there is a strong need to reach out to the communities that include persons with disabilities. They may either be out of reach from proper information, or they may have misconceptions on how to react to emergencies. And we are very fortunate to have Dr. Solidum and Dr. Esguerra, to help us understand and develop a more disaster-resilient way of living for PWDs,” said Bien Mateo, SM Cares program director for persons with disabilities.
“For our elderly, we have our undeniable limitations such as mobility and sensory capacities. They may know that there is an emergency but are unable to act upon it. We want to enlighten them that there are responses that they can do that best fits their situation. This is one way we want to strengthen the communities of our senior citizens,” added Danilo Chavez, SM Cares program director for senior citizens.
The project is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Goal No. 11: to make cities and human settlements sustainable. It is projected that by 2050, 70% of the world’s population will be living in cities, making sustainability a critical priority. SM, together with national government agencies and community members, are collectively engaged in pursuing objectives to make cities safer, resource-efficient, resilient and inclusive.
SM continues to promote a barrier-free and disability-inclusive environment to ensure that SM becomes a place for all, and where everyone is cared for. More than these sectors of the community, this series of events also encourages everyone to make emergency preparedness more than just a vital piece of knowledge, but a way of life.
SM Cares is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Its advocacies include Environment Sustainability, Programs on Persons with Disabilities, Children and Youth, Women and Breastfeeding Mothers, Senior Citizens, and Overseas Filipino Workers (SM Global Pinoy).
Some mental disabilities such as ADHD and bipolar disorder, for example, are not immediately approved as it needs a comprehensive medical abstract from a licensed psychologist who is connected with a hospital.
A slipped (or herniated) disc, for example, is not considered a disability. I am not a doctor, don’t quote me on this, but I am assuming that a herniated disc is not approved because it is common and does not impact our lives long-term.
Scoliosis is a disability, but not all applicants with scoliosis are approved, especially if they cannot see any curvature in the spine and the supporting documents do not substantiate the condition. I know someone who told me he has scoliosis but try as I might, I don’t see it. To be fair, it isn’t pronounced, if at all, and it’s not like I have ever seen his naked back so how would I really know? I also haven’t seen his x-rays PLUS … most importantly, I am not a doctor.
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